Ropes Courses

Ropes Course
Professional Associations & Standards

Quick Guide

• Professional Associations

• Professional Standards

Ropes Courses - Professional Associations

Three professional ropes course associations have evolved -- two competing associations in the USA, and one in Europe.  Their main focus is maintaining a set of operational procedures that can help vendors to leverage lower insurance premiums.

• Professional Ropes Course Association (PRCA), USA
• Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT), USA
• European Ropes Course Association (ERCA)

Ropes Courses - Standard Procedures

Each country follows its own specific ropes course standards.  There are four main standards from an international perspective

• USA (PRCA & ACCT) - hard copy via membership
• Britain and Europe (ERCA) - hard copy via membership
• Australia (ORC & OCA) - electronic draft for comment

Many organizations and ropes courses, however, do not follow such standards directly.  Instead the design of these ropes courses is based on the organization's own expertise and professional advice such as from engineers and builders.